NEWS WATCH: PERIPHERALS; On Dark and Stormy Nights, A Keyboard Lights the Way

The EluminX keyboard from Auravision glows in the dark, thanks to an electroluminescent panel that provides soft backlighting for its clear plastic keys.

The technology was first used in laptops developed for military use, where computing at night or in low light is frequently necessary.

The company has recently expanded the line beyond the original aquamarine model, introducing a keyboard that glows sapphire.

The EluminX keyboard, which has a list price of $99.95 and can be ordered online at www.eluminx.com, takes a little getting used to. Learning where to place your fingers is a bit like learning to walk down stairs that are lighted from below.